Portland Timbers awarded hosting duties for 2014 MLS All-Star Game

View full sizeSmoke cloud circle around JELD-WEN Field sometimes when the Timbers or Thorns FC score goals, and there was plenty of smoke billowing about during the July 9 Gold Cup match between the US and Belize. The venue will add another accolade to its resume when it was announced that the Timbers will host the 2014 MLS All-Star Game in late July or early August against an unnamed opponent.Kip Kesgard, community blogger

MLS has stated an All-Star Match every hear since
their inception, but in the early years, they staged a rather traditional East
versus West format with a few exceptions – the 1998 match that pitted MLS USA
starts versus MLS World Stars and a 2002 date against the U.S. Men's National
Team. In 2003, MLS changed the format to
pit their All-Stars versus some of the biggest clubs in the world; famed clubs
like Chelsea, Manchester United, Celtic FC, West Ham United and CD Guadalajara
have all participated in the match with famed Italian side AS Roma battling the
2013 MLS All-Stars on July 31, 2013 at Sporting
Park in Kansas City.
Paulson indicated that discussions have been ongoing with the proposed
opposing club, but that nothing has been officially confirmed and their
identity won't be announced until later this summer. The actual date of the match is also to be
determined, as MLS, the Timbers and the opponent will take into account MLS
fixtures, the opponent's schedule and any open time available between various
matches in the 2014 World Cup taking place in Brazil. Obviously, all the parties want to pick a
date that works for everybody while maximizing the overall exposure of the
match.

There are a few certainties that were mentioned in
today's announcement. Firstly, ESPN and
TSN of Canada will be broadcasting the match from JELD-WEN Field as the
official broadcast partners. Secondly,
the host team's coach is always selected as the Coach of the MLS All-Star Team,
so Timbers Coach Caleb Porter would be the man at the helm of the 2014 MLS
All-Stars. Finally, there will be no
adjustments to the playing surface at JELD-WEN Field to bring in temporary
grass, so the match will be played upon the FIFA 2-Star recommended field,
which makes JWF the only FIFA recommended surface in the state of Oregon. Considering many of the comments surrounding
the perpetual debate of natural grass versus turf, many opposing players have
been extremely complimentary about the stadium's turf. While JWF's reputation as a boisterous and vibrant
game day venue have been cemented over the years of supporting the Timbers and
Thorns FC, the playing amenities are also earning raves as well.